STATE QUARTERLY MEETING.
By Stephen N. Haskell
The third quarterly meeting of the California Tract and Missionary Society, for the present conference year, convened April 26, 1880, on the Lemoore Camp-ground. The meeting was called to order by Eld. Haskell. He made some remarks relative to the great amount of good that had been accomplished by our missionary societies. The minutes of the previous meeting, held Jan. 18, were read and approved. The resolutions adopted at that time recommending the circulation of Sr. White's works were spoken of, and the librarians present questioned in regard to what had been done in this respect during the quarter. They reported libraries of her works in the various churches. It was recommended that each family obtain these for their own libraries to read themselves, and also to loan to their neighbors. Then followed a report of the work done in the State during the quarter; which is as follows:— The president then spoke of the wants of the cause in this State, and the necessity of our engaging more earnestly in the work, especially in that relating to the Seamen's mission. Vessels leave San Francisco for nearly every civilized country in the world; and publications can thus be sent everywhere. Seamen have reported the greatest anxiety on the part of the inhabitants of some of the islands of the Pacific, to obtain our publications, and captains have sometimes themselves become interested. They have also furnished us with many names for our Vigilant Missionary Societies, and a goodly number of interested readers have thus been obtained. A committee on resolutions was appointed by the chair consisting of J. L. Wood, C. W. Porter, and G. W. Hutchings. The meeting then adjourned to the call of the chair. At the second meeting held April 27 at 9 o'clock A. M. the committee on resolutions made the following report:— WHEREAS, we have been favored with the labors of Sr. White in this State, and thereby a vast amount of prejudice existing against our views has been removed; and realizing that the way is now opened for more successful missionary labor than ever before; therefore, Resolved, That we will seek a greater consecration to God and his work, and recommend colporting and canvassing for the sale of our publications, especially the Spirit of Prophecy, and obtaining subscribers for our periodicals; and WHEREAS, this will necessitate a greater amount of bound books and pamphlets to be kept on hand. Resolved, That we recommend our districts and church societies to act as agents for the State tract society, in the sale of bound books and pamphlets, returning retail price to the State society; Resolved, That we also recommend our ministers and colporters to act as agents in the sale of our publications and to deal directly with the State society. Resolved, That we are in harmony with the ship missionary work, and recommend raising immediately a fund of $3,000, one-third to be appropriated for the ship work and the remainder as a reserve fund to carry the publications necessary to supply those who sell in our districts. Resolved, In view of the local societies and ministers acting as agents for the society, we thereby discontinue the ten per cent. hitherto added to tracts and charged to the districts. Resolved, That the expense of transportation of publications to the districts and churches shall be paid out of the State fund. Resolved, That we recommend each district to make a special effort to pay its indebtedness as soon as possible, that the State society may be able to pay its indebtedness and relieve the association. These resolutions were acted upon separately and unanimously adopted. Much earnestness was shown by the brethren in regard to the resolutions, especially the fourth. The call for pledges toward this fund met with a hearty response. Seven of the brethren present immediately pledged one hundred dollars each, and eight others fifty dollars each; in a few minutes and without special urging the pledges amounted to over $1,700, to be paid on or before Nov. 15, 1880. If our northern brethren will do as well in proportion, the sum raised will exceed $5,000. There were between twenty and thirty that joined the General T. and M. Society at $10.00 each. The number of subscriptions for our periodicals, taken on the ground, was over one hundred, mostly for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Two little brothers, aged respectively six and seven years, obtained nine subscribers for the Instructor. Two go from this meeting as colporters, and three as canvassers for our periodicals; and an agency for Plain Facts was also taken by two of the brethren. Several meetings were devoted to instructions in the missionary work, accompanied with illustrations upon the black-board, showing the manner of doing the business required in the society, in which there was much interest taken by those present. ELD. S. N. HASKELL, Pres.
BARBARA C. STICKNEY, Sec.